Cameron- 4 marks 2 contested Cox- 3 Marks- 1 contested De Koning- 5 marks - 1 contested Pittonet-1 mark 1 contested
I suspect all were getting their hands to the ball at different stages but were spoiling each other in most of the contests.
Yep, Pitto does need to take those marks around the ground, but no blame for the loss could be put on the shoulders of our rucks. Likewise, with the exception of Williams, our defence did well until continued pressure and too many inside 50s from Rottingwood.
I also didn't see much wrong with our midfield, apart from being a little loose at times (Walsh) and going backwards too often (Cerra).
Rottingwood came well prepared to counter any and all of our strengths. They were mentally up for the challenge and hunted us really well. Whereas, we looked a little confused at times with a concerning lack of connection around the ground and especially between midfield and forwards. Insufficient confidence?
Williams is not a deep defender. Panics. Much better further up the ground. We were very, very lucky there weren't more free kicks against him as he did 'hang on' to opponents too much. Weiters, Boyd, Gov, Newey, Saad, Cincotta, Cow... are far more reliable in deep defence.
I've banged on before about a 'hunting' mentality. When we have this, we are much, much better. Finessing, is not our thing. We do better when the attitude/focus is simple. We seem to be thinking too much. Too complex trying to implement 'layers?'
A pretty good effort considering we were down three players for most of the evening - small Durds, Fantasia & Williams were liabilities. And Chugga being the sub was silly.
I thought the backline, considering the number of Rottingwood forward entries and Williams gifting them goals, did really well.
Again with a fifteen minute lapse in concentration in the 2nd qtr - in hindsight, that's when we lost too much. We were 'hunted' and wilted.
Presently, we're where we belong on the ladder, but just a fleas eyelash from top 4, especially with better small forward talent - Motlop, Martin & Fogarty.
I wonder if George H was a bit crook with the flu, not his usual standard? And not enough from Cunners.
Pleasantly surprised. Excellent changes. Not our usual conservative approach. We want our players to be bold, good to see MC doing likewise... a good message to some that you have to earn games with consistent form.
Ollie needed to return to the Magoos and regain touch... perhaps, also, try him in different roles. Young is fortunate Rottingwood has Cox.
Carroll and Binns need Magoo time. Cerra and Cunners, good upgrades. Bring your defensive effort, Cunners... not a cameo.
Kemp is a little unfortunate but, if we're honest, his form has been patchy. Ticker? Great, but needs to work on consistency and decision making. Cincotta excellent replacement.
Fantasia or Durdin to be the sub, I would guess.
Upside for us with those dropped - a better looking Magoos!
Except when we rise the pressure rating to 200, rather than 150/160, then we have no issue. Then we are good defensively and we kick goals in a hurry. A case of switching on more. After the real bake the players got last week watch how much better we are defensively this week.
Nup, we're favourites. $1.77 to $2.05.
The season thus far indicates we raise this pressure rating in fits and starts - score heavily, or get scored heavily against, depending on this pressure. Our win/loss quarter ration is about 50/50. Again, inconsistency raises its head.
I wonder if we'll start favourites again!! Doubt it.
Plenty of articles in today's media about our issues. In a nutshell: defensively ordinary, and dropping the aggot on the heads of H and Charles and expecting them to work miracles... ignoring other leading forwards.
That's two games of the last three where we lost in a similar manner. That's a glaring issue. Maybe so many close wins prior papered over some cracks?
At half time my most dominant thought was just how wasteful we were. And how perplexing (to be kind) umpiring was sucking the wind out of our sails. Jason D (and others) summed up the umpiring rather nicely.
As Principal LODS noted, as did this little black duck, Vossy was most unimpressed with our lack of discipline. He refused to individualize as it was team discipline (defence), or the lack thereof, that he focussed on. The Pussycats were 'allowed' to be clinically efficient in front of goal (as were the Croweaters and GWS).
We're sixth on the ladder with an ordinary %. Good feedback. About where we belong. But we all know we're better than that... or are we? Perhaps after so many years in the wilderness we're (and players?) just happy to be in the eight? Not sure Vossy shares that contentment.
Some thoughts on individuals/specifics. Baffled as to why a strong-bodied, hard, quick and close checking Cincotta is being left out of our defence. Williams brings dash and some impressive cameos, but his defensive work is below parr. Young is way too one-dimensional and lacks intensity. Delivery into the forward line is ordinary. Sixteen times (or thereabouts) we dumped the aggot on Charles' head - defenders love that. When we looked for other options we were more productive (efficient?), as an example when E Hollands (who often made very good position) was utilized, it bothered the defence and we hit the scoreboard... just not often enough ...utilizing other forward options. Lazy stuff to put the aggot on Charles' head and expect him to produce miracles. When we were, all too seldom, delivering the pill in front of a leading Charles or H, or Chugga, or Owies, or Elija or...., it often had a better outcome. Small Durds just doesn't do enough.
Thank the gods for Crippa, Pitto, Walsh, Weiters, Acres, Chugga and H.
We were wasteful. Created plenty of opportunities, then butchered those opportunities - too often. The Pussycats were clinically efficient. They had no passengers.
For the commentators to be reporting that the Pussycats were getting the 'rub of the green' was telling. Umpire nude-nut needs a 'please explain' from the AFL.
20 more inside 50s and lose. That needs a lot of explaining. The efficiency of the Pussycats set them up so well. We'll learn much from this... and have plenty of potential to get better, which we must.
I think the Mirkov experiment is coming to an end but O’Keeffe is worth persevering with. His last VFL game was very good and he can pinch hit as a key forward.
I wouldn’t be rushing Moir into the seniors but I’m sure he’ll be demanding a game before the season’s out. He did OK in the pre-season games and should adjust to the tempo without too many problems. He has been a bit wasteful with his kicking for goal so let’s hope he gets his radar aligned.
I'd keep my powder dry re the Mirk. Ticker surgery and before that goodness only knows how much the crook ticker was affecting his game. Let's see how he progresses.
Like Mr O'Keefe... coming along nicely.
Moir's first goal was like he was a natural left footer, and the next goal, like he was a natural right footer. His defensive game is coming along well, also. Obviously a focus. Reckon we might see him a little sooner than some may expect.
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